
Conference #1
Vineyards & Biodiversity
May 12th & 13th, 2022 – Avignon (France)
The first multidisciplinary conference to build tomorrow’s viticulture.

Tomorrow’s viticulture starts today!
Conceived as an open and transversal dialogue between science and wine, this conference’s aim is to share knowledge, to highlight and share practical experiences, and to inspire new directions and perspectives.
It is dedicated to winegrowers, unions and interprofessional organizations, current and future wine professionals, institutions and organizations working for biodiversity as well as scientists, researchers and students with links to biodiversity.

Multidisciplinary speakers
While certain 20th century agronomic precepts tend to see nature as a free service provider, and winegrowers view biodiversity as an obstacle to development, all of these speakers propose visions that will open up the field of possibilities to break this deadlock. This conference offers a real overview to reflect well beyond the simple limits of the land register.

Open dialogue
Conducted bilingually in French and English, Vignoble & Biodiversité is open to all professionals concerned with this subject, whatever their “(agri)cultural” background might be. The conference is not only aimed at those who have already acquired an environmental certification, but at those who wish to move towards a biodiversity-based viticulture. Its aim is to open up exchanges, allow for constructive discussions, and to create a virtuous dynamic in which biodiversity becomes a collective goal and not merely an individual mission.

A committed conference
For each participant a tree will be planted in collaboration with a local association.
We say no to goodies which often end up in the trash bin shortly after being handed out…
The caterer who will delight us will use mostly eco-responsible tableware.
In support of independent bookshops, for this first edition Vignoble & Biodiversité supports the bookshop L’Orange Bleue, inviting them to open a pop-up library at the Palais des Papes for the two days of the conference. Numerous books on biodiversity – both French and international – will be available for consultation and purchase on site.
Topics & Speakers
Biodiversity and its ecosystems are part of a vast dynamic and do not stop at registered or territorial boundaries.
Often unfairly considered as a constraint, it nevertheless offers key answers to current disruptions – whether climatic or ecological – while guaranteeing the continuity of a thousand-year-old cultural tradition.
The themes addressed during the conference are like biodiversity – diverse, essential, transversal and complementary – creating the first step towards the viticulture of tomorrow.

Sébastien Giorgis
The landscape – a territory, a culture, a showcase for the vineyard and a matrix for biodiversity

Marc Dufumier
Agroecology – A sustainable agronomic model

Prof. Dr. Ilona Leyer
Evolution of viticultural landscapes and its influence on biodiversity

Frédéric Chaudière
Viticulture and Biodiversity – An appellation takes up the challenge

Andreas Schumann
Viticulture and Biodiversity – From organic to biodynamic, a beneficial change

Jean-François Agut
Viticulture and Biodiversity – Polyculture & Permaculture

Lilian Bérillon
Preserving the genetic diversity of grape varieties

Mathieu Meyer
Getting ready for biodiversity

Eric L’Helgoualch
The importance of trees and hedgess in viticulture

Adrien Rusch
Viticulture & biodiversity: chimera or reality? – The effects of landscape and viticultural practices on biodiversity and ecosystem services

Hervé Coves
Soil Life – Mycorrhizae & fungi and the secrets of a living soil

Katharina Adler M.Sc.
Wildlife ecology: Birds and viticulture – protecting biodiversity & enhancing nature’s functions

Prof. Emmanuelle Porcher
The agricultural biodiversity observatory: get to know the biodiversity in your vineyards

Georges Truc
Geology – Bedrock, terroir and living soils

Tobias Bandel
Economy & Ecology – Biodiversity and sustainable economy

Laetitia Allemand
Facilitator & Time Keeper